Ohio

Sen. John McCain endorsed on Thursday a ballot initiative in California that would overturn the recent state court ruling legalizing same-sex "marriage."

"I support the efforts of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman, just as we did in my home state of Arizona. I do not believe judges should be making these decisions," the Republican presidential candidate said in a statement, according to ProtectMarriage.com.

McCain's support for traditional marriage was welcomed by conservatives and pro-family groups especially at a time when many of them remain unsure of the Arizona senator and his stance on social issues. more >>

A Christian legal group filed a brief Monday, denying that the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah, was obligated to grant a religious group outside Salt Lake City the right to display its version of the Ten Commandments in public parks because it would turn public areas into forums of religion.

In the latest development in a protracted case involving the contested right of Summum to place its “Seven Aphorisms” alongside the Ten Commandments, Liberty Counsel said it is adding its defense in its case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Summum, which claims to represent both the “inner workings of Nature” and "the sum total of all creation," has argued consistently in local courts that the current display of the Ten Commandments in public parks must not exclude the viewpoints of other religious groups. more >>

The decision of an Ohio middle school to fire a popular, Christian science teacher of over 20 years has generated media attention and concerns that the decision could have been motivated out of religious bias against Christians.

In its decision, the Mount Vernon School district voted unanimously Friday to sack the veteran teacher, John Freshwater, because of reports that Freshwater had preached his Christian beliefs and had burned the image of a cross on the arms of students.

Freshwater, however, has denied any wrongdoing, and his spokesman, David Daubenmire, said that the charges were all motivated out of bias and prejudice. more >>

A Christian legal group is suing in federal court an Ohio public library over what the group argues is a case of anti-Christian religious discrimination.

In its lawsuit filed last week, the Alliance Defense Fund said the Clermont County Public Library denied a Christian couple access to their public meeting rooms because of their intention to hold a seminar that would make use of Scripture-based financial related materials through Crown Financial Ministries.

Although the library’s public policy states that “meeting rooms are available to all community groups and non-profit organizations,” the biblically-based financial group was denied access to a meeting room because of what the library said was a policy against “quoting Bible verses.” more >>

Hundreds gathered on Saturday at Ernest Angley's Grace Cathedral in Akron, Ohio, to remember the late Rev. Rex Humbard, widely considered the pioneer of televangelism.

"Rex was focused on one thing: to tell people they need to be saved," said Wayne Jones, Humbard's brother-in-law, according to The Associated Press.

Humbard died Sept. 21 of natural causes at the age of 88 at a South Florida hospital near his home. His body lay in state Saturday at the former Cathedral of Tomorrow in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a suburb of nearby Akron, where he broadcast Sunday services to millions of people worldwide. "A Home Going Celebration" was held at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron Sunday afternoon. more >>

Members of a regional body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have rejected a proposal supporting gay ordination.

Maumee Valley Presbytery, the PC(USA) body of northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan, voted 61-56 on Tuesday against the proposal and held off a vote on a more specific ban against the ordination of gays and lesbians until November.

"We lost," said the Rev. Michelle Stecker, the only openly gay ordained minister in the regional body, according to The Toledo Blade. more >>